“Since leaving the life of pinstripes, mahogany desks and secretaries behind, I have helped out friends and relatives with their own divorces, and thus saved them from being caught up in a costly and frustrating system. As much as I’d like to, I can’t save everyone,

Everyone wants to have a divorce so bad it makes the headlines, right? Here’s a way to guarantee your divorce will drag out for over a year, empty your bank accounts and rake your heart over the coals. 1. Hire an attorney right away. Find one with the reputation of a pit-bull; the mea

By Margie Mittleman The Florida Bar recently published an article aimed at attorneys titled “‘Legal freegans’ are looking to ‘eat your lunch.’” (February 15, 2014) The article was focusing on nonlawyer entities “encroaching on the traditional practice of law.” Interestingly, the artic

Someone asked me this week if I can provide legal advice. I responded “I am a mediator, not an attorney, therefore I cannot provide legal advice, only legal information.” What is the difference between legal information and legal advice, and what does that mean to the average lay pers

Many divorcing couples are under the misconception that unless they agree on every point, they have to hire attorneys. However, the Florida Supreme Court Marital Settlement Agreement, Section VI states: “We have not agreed on the following issues:” then is followed by a bl

Mediation is a problem-solving process in which a neutral, skilled third person – the mediator – helps the parties in a dispute to reach a voluntary agreement. The mediator does not decide how the dispute should be resolved, but instead helps the parties develop agreements that are sa